J. J. Abrams and Gabe Newell will come together to deliver the opening keynote discussion at the 2013 DICE Summit next week.

Star Trek director Abrams - who also co-created Lost and is set to helm Star Wars Episode VII - and Valve president Newell will open the games industry conference with a session entitled 'Storytelling Across Platforms:Blade & Soul account Who Benefits Most, the Audience or the player? '

Martin Rae, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, which produces the DICE Summit, said: "From TV to film and now award-winning mobile apps, there's no question that J. J. has his finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry, and we're thrilled to welcome him and our 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Gabe Newell, to the DICE stage.

"J. J. thoughtfully weaves together suspense, action, emotion, and fun into every one of his projects - elements every game developer aspires to capture as well. Each year, the DICE Summit sets the tone for the year ahead in games and adding J. J. and Gabe's shared insights is a natural fit as we see all forms of entertainment converge. "

The DICE Summit will take place from February 5 to February 8. Newell will also give a conference keynote on February 7 called 'A View on Next Steps', in which he'll discuss where the industry is headed, and the advances Valve is making with Steam and Big Picture to prepare for that future.